At the local Rotary Club, members arrange programs for the weekly meetings. This year, I had the program right before Christmas.
I asked Rotarians to bring and tell their own Christmas stories…stories of a Christmas past. For my story, I read a script from one of these radio shows. A young pastor was inspired by the way a mom and dad taught their young children the meaning of Christmas. Their story became the essence of his Christmas sermons for the next 50 years.
Another Rotarian recalled the Christmas when his dad was out of work. There was no money for a tree. He scraped together $3, walked three miles to where the trees were being sold, and dragged a scrawny tree – all he could afford – all the way home in the snow. Although he was just 16, he took responsibility for his family’s good Christmas.
There were stories of gratitude for gifts provided by the Club. Tales of elderly brought happiness by a Christmas visit. A veteran club member told of spending Christmas on a war-torn island in the Pacific.
Even those who told no story out loud seemed filled with private memories remembered. It was such a good program – just sharing special moments with people who had become friends through the fellowship of giving and caring and being proud Americans.
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